The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-02-17
WASHINGTON LETTER .
[From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. D. c.,
FEB. Ia, 1887,

LIB, Ii, 1901.
Congress is working rather spas
medically in these last weeks Of
its life. Last week it was industri-
Gus, but just now it is taking it's
short life easily On Wednesday
a large amount of obituary elo-
quence was expended in the Sem
ate in honor of the late Senator
Logan, and in the House. similar
eulogistic speeches were made in
honor of Mr.. Price, the late Repre-
sentative from Wisconsin, These
memorial services consume a great
deal of time but they are not bust
ness, and it was hoped that the
useless custom would be abrogat-
ed before the end of this session.
The President acknowledges
himself much worried over the Sc
lection of suitable persons to serve
upon the Interstate Commerce
Commission. He says nothing
has given him more concern since
he came into Office, he is so desir-
Gus that the members Of the Com
mission shall be practical men of
affairs, and acceptable to the ma
|jority of all parties concerned. 1t
is stated by a Congressman who
processes to know that Colonel
Morrison has been offered his
choice between the Craftsmanship
of the Commission and the Secre-
taryship of the Treasury Depart
ment. 1t is understood that the
President will not appoint any
member of either the Senate or
House who has been elected to the
Fiftieth Congress.
As the session draws steadily to
a close it is feared nothing will be
done to change Inauguration. day
from the 4th of March to the 3Oth
of April. Unless the proposed
amendment to the Constitution is
submitted by this Congress, the
change cannot be made in 1889,
and the next inaugural procession
along the grand Avenue will again
be compelled to face the pneumo-
nia-breeding gales of March
There are SO many Presidential
aspirants in Congress who are in
terested on this subject that it is
to be hoped the matter will be
pushed through in the closing
hours of the session, when 30 many
schemes pass through with a rush.
Almost everybody favors the
change, and no argument in its be-
half is needed. A few minutes OF
action is all that is necessary.
Much interest is felt to know
what the President will do with
that disability pension bill, or the
pauper pension bill, as it is called.
Not that it is a bill for paupers,
but a bill to make paupers out OF
self-supporting citizens. 1t was
not supposed that the bill stood
and chance of passing not even by
the demagogues, claim-agents and
deadbeats who advocated it, but
the desperation of the men who at
tudinize as the soldiers champions
was moderated. They managed
to pass this, one of the most reck-
less specimens of legislation ever
presented in Congress, and thus
throw upon a Democratic Presi-
dent the responsibility of standing
in its way.
As loud a howl of indignation
came up from the country over
the passage of the universal pen
sion bill as was the shout of con-
graduation over the defense bill,
passed by the Senate a few days
ago. Just think that after Repub-
lican Administrations have ex-
pended in the last eighteen years,
eight times fifty millions for naval
purposes there is nothing to show
for it to-day. Secretary Whitney
has just issued an order that some
of Uncle Sans old hulks must be
sold. He mentions eight con-
demned vessels, such as are unfit
for further service in the Navy,
lying now at San Francisco, New
York and League Island.
But the country has reason to
feel that practical use will be made
of the money which Congress may
now vote to be spent on the Navy.
Consequently when the Senate
agreed to the sum of $21,OOO,O 900
for sea coast defence and big guns,
an echo. of applause came back
from every corner of the nation.
Returning to that remarkable
pension bill, which it is to be hop
ed the President will veto, it may
be well to mention that under such
a law the pension roll would be
more numerous than the Union
Army ever was. The bill virtually
pensions every man who was in
the Army, without regard to abili-
ty or disability, wealth or poverty,
and provides for the so called de-
pendent parents of the soldiers
who died. 1t provides a pension
for every ex-soldier who will say
he a not carr a support. And
who is to define what a support is?
Some men require $500 a year for
a support and others require $685.
900. AS there is no definite mean
ing to the term Support" what is
to prevent any man, however ex-
travagant, from claiming that the
$12 a month, in addition to his in
come, is necessary to his support?
The bill offers a premium to eve
ry man who was in the Army to
become a loafer and depend upon
the Government for support
Tens of thousands of men do live
on So a week, and if the measure
should unfortunately become a
law, it would merely increase
the great army of the unemployed.
Tr